Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Severed #5 of 7
Image Comics
Snyder, Tuft & Futaki
Severed has been as promised in that it is a slow-burn type of story. Last issue we had some truly horrible things occur and Snyder follows that up with an issue that slows down the pace again. However, it works really well because on every single page I am expecting something awful to happen. Snyder has managed to make a suspenseful, horror story come to life in a comic book, which is not something I expected when this series started. Taken as an individual issue it probably isn't all that effective, but coming off the previous issue (or previous four issues) the story comes across as terror for the reader. This is a very good issue that toys with the emotions and senses of the reader like no other book I have read.
Jack is now on the road with the old man. The old man is a psychotic, child-eating, serial killer and Jack trusts him almost blindly. Unaware that his friend, Sam, is dead by the old man's hand, Jack travels with the old man in hopes of finding his father.
Naturally I am waiting for the old man to turn on Jack. Jack is just a kid and the old man just can't pass them up as we've seen. The question looms: if he isn't turning on Jack then what is the old man's game? Is he looking for help, so that long term, he will get more kids? Or is he simply savoring his victory by leading Jack on? We have two more issues to find out what happens and I can't wait.
The issue is packed with scary, suspenseful drama. A wide range of events occur that could change the course of the story, such as cops pulling the pair over to a creepy pimp trying to beat up Jack to the final pages where the old man drugs Jack. Many turns of the story lead us to a slight variation of the fine line between relief and horror. You won't find a book with this type of roller-coaster play on raw emotions.
The artwork does exactly what it is supposed to do. This is a horror book and the art creates a frightening atmosphere. Panels where characters appear scared, panels where characters appear to be hiding something behind their backs and panels where a wicked glance could lead to death are scattered throughout the issue. Tuft uses point-of-view to the point of brilliance in this issue. The story is scary enough, but the art turns it up a notch.
Severed is one of those books that I could have easily dropped after the first issue. I wasn't sold on the idea and I wasn't sure I wanted to hang around for six more issues. The payoff came in issue number four. This issue keeps me on my toes from cover to cover which means the series is definitely paying off. If you like suspense and horror then this is the series for you. I can't wait to see how Snyder ends this.
4 out of 5 Geek Goggles
